Daylight saving may cut road toll: study

By Christine Kellett

A new study has strengthened the case for daylight saving in South-East Queensland, showing the periodical winding of the clocks is an economic stimulus and potential life saver.

Associate Professor Uwe Dulleck, of Queensland University of Technology's School of Economics and Finance, has suggested the State Government reconsider its position on daylight saving and sanction a 12-month trial after a review of research from around the world found significant economic and health benefits.

Shops which stay open longer do better business, people play more sport to get fit and there are fewer car crashes, according to the findings.

"We all know about the arguments for the economic costs of being out of sync with the southern states by having different time zones along the eastern side of Australia during summer," Professor Dulleck said.

"[But] one of the most compelling studies is a US Department of Transport one which found that there are 0.7 per cent fewer accidents during daylight saving time (DST) in summer. "

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Queensland is tracking for on of its worst annual road tolls in recent years, with 285 people killed in road accidents since January.

Professor Dulleck said the evidence also stacked up economically, offering the retail industry a much-needed shot in the arm by giving consumers more incentive and opportunity to spend.

"There are some commentators who suggest sports industries benefit from DST because people buy racquets to play tennis in that extra evening hour, golf clubs get more people hitting the course because they can get in nine rounds before dark," Professor Dulleck said.

"Community sports clubs' membership would go up as people realised they had more time after work join a team and get in a game.

"Playing sport or an extra hour on the beach make us happier as well as healthier and happy people are more productive. Healthy ones save the public health system."

However, he said the full impact of the time change - positive or negative - would never be known without a trial, and dismissing it was a mistake.

"Perhaps it's time we trialled daylight saving for Queensland so that we could start quantifying the potential economic benefits," he said.

Perhaps it's time we trialled daylight saving for Queensland so that we could start quantifying the potential economic benefits,

The State Government last year ruled out both a move to daylight saving and a referendum on the issue, which has divided the South-East's business lobby and regional Queensland.

A 2007 AC Nielsen survey found 69 per cent of South-East Queenslanders wanted daylight saving but 64 per cent of regional Queenslanders did not.

New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia are all on daylight savings time, altering their clocks every March and October.